Thornfield Flashcards
‘reader’ chapter 11
repetition. moments of change
‘the roads were heavy, the light misty’ chapter 11
metaphorical - moving through the Bildungsroman
Mrs Fairfax
warmth from ‘fire’. social class is inextricably linked with character. doesn’t answer Jane’s questions clearly about Rochester and Thornfield - mystery
‘keys’ chapter 11
repetition.deeply symbolic for Thornfield being shrouded in secrecy. Jane being kept from secrets in the house
‘I anticipated only coldness and stiffness… but I must not exult too soon’ chapter 11
awkward social position of the governess - above servants but below family. Bronte introducing theme of social inequality
‘an array of mighty old thorn trees, strong, knotty, and broad as oaks, at once explained the etymology of the mansion’s designation’ chapter 11
link to Mr Rochester and foreshadows the secrets that surround Thornfield
Adele
‘she is Mr Rochester’s ward’ - deliberate use of Romantic terms. adopted in rich household to improve social standing
‘most of the books were locked up’ chapter 11
freedom contrasts with images of locked up - dichotomy of Mr Rochester/Jane? society to repress
Mr Rochester
incite into his character - “Mr Rochester’s visits here are rare, they are always sudden and unexpected” - sense of entitlement. “he is rather peculiar” “he is very changeful and abrupt”
‘all these relics gave to the third storey of Thornfield Hall the aspect of a home of the past: a shrine of memory’
something from past - gothic genre- link to Bertha - thing from the past that is locked away
‘if there were a ghost at Thornfield Hall this would be its haunt’ chapter 11
Bertha is the ghost - unseen - causes speculation
‘the laugh was as tragic, as preternatural a laugh as any I ever heard’ chapter 11
echoes loneliness of Bertha. beyond what is normal
‘women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts, as much as their brothers do’ chapter 12
Bronte showing proto-feminist thoughts which men in Victorian era would find repellent
‘appear through the dusk’ chapter 12
pathetic fallacy - highly metaphorical - doesn’t see Rochester - man shrouding in secrecy
Gytrash
Jane is sensitive to omens - believes in supernatural - gothic atmosphere - vivid and theatrical
‘man and horse were down’ chapter 12
foreshadowing Rochester’s disability and Jane caring for him. inverse of and an antipathy of any Romantic meeting’
‘silent hall… faint excitement… too still existence’ chapter 12
all adjectives show Jane is trapped
‘I knew my traveller by his broad and jetty eyebrows; his square forehead, made squarer by the horizontal sweep of his black hair’ chapter 13
Rochester is the Byronic Hero - mysterious, dark, brooding, well travelled and set apart from society norms
‘reader… these pictures were in water-colours…clouds low and livid, rolling over a swollen sea’ chapter 13
Romantic, preoccupation with extreme wild landscapes and exotica are indicative of Jane’s true nature
“they are elfish” chapter 13
link to how Jane saw herself in the red room - communion of souls between Jane and Rochester. sense of exotica
“you have the air of a little nonnette” chapter 14
Jane’s innocence. Jane is able to speak the truth to him. Bronte to show development of Jane growing up and loving Rochester
“I have plenty faults of my own… I envy you your peace of mind… I am not a villain” chapter 14
Rochester referring obliquely to Bertha. shows how he views himself as ‘polluted’ - Bertha was a prostitute. Rochester admires Jane’s purity and her sense of innocence
“I have a right to get pleasure out of life” chapter 14
really intimate conversation about sex - heightened intimacy between Jane and Rochester and heightens status of Byronic Hero
chapter 15
story of Adele. Jane absolute antithesis of Celine
‘demonic laugh… goblin laughter… unnatural sound was reiterated’ chapter 15
not human - reinforces that Bertha is robbed of her humanity
‘tongues of flame darted around the bed… smoke had stupefied him’ chapter 15
fire in Rochester’s room. smoke metaphorically represents how Jane is unable to see truth of Thornfield. Bertha’s strength of passion - uncontrollable wildness in contrast Jane gets her water jug and ‘baptised the couch afresh’ - washing away sins Jane’s christian temperance saves Rochester - raging passion of both Jane and Bertha
“It is as well to have a drawn bolt between one and any mischief that may be about” chapter 16
Grace warns Jane to keep her door locked - adding to secrets kept from Jane
Blanche Ingram
defined by beauty “Miss Ingram was definitely the queen” ‘her laugh was satirical’ -mocking ‘she played…she sang…she talked French’-all the accomplishments necessary for her class
‘fool… idiot’ chapter 16 ‘don’t make him the object of your fine feelings, your raptures, agonies and so forth. he is not of you order’ chapter 17
Jane scolds herself for considering Rochester would think well of her - linked to image what she knows about Blanche. “Portrait of a Governess, disconnected, poor, and plain” - Bronte once again highlighting the isolating and painful social position of a governess
“doesn’t she know?”… there was a mystery at Thornfield… I was purposely excluded’ chapter 17
more aware of her exclusion from the deepening mystery, furthering impacting her isolation within Thornfield
“what beautiful ladies!” chapter 17
exclamatory - Adele is interested in appearance - innocent eyes of a child - appearance vs reality theme introduced
‘I retired to a window seat’ chapter 17
observer - metaphorical representation for social class and society
‘flock of white plumy birds’ chapter 17
quainted metaphor - Jane is describing them for who appearance is entirely important
“what induced you to take charge of such a little doll as that?” chapter 17
Blanche’s lack of warmth -reduces Adele to a thing
“all incubi” “don’t mention the word governess, the word makes me nervous” chapter 17
incubi means holder of a disease so it shows Jane’s marginalised status- powerless -upper class attitudes to governesses- lack of empathy for Jane. Blanche is a snob, bully
chapter 18
appearance, disguise and reality
‘playing charades’ chapter 18
metaphor for Rochester lying about who he is
Jane’s view of Blanche
negative/condescending ‘tenderness and truth were not in her’
Mason chapter 18
dramatic arrival of a stranger fits nicely with the images of disguise and theatricality of charades
“no contact strikes the fire from you that is in you” chapter 19
Rochester talking to Jane through charades - fire Bronte has been talking about all the way through. Rochester honest to Jane only when in disguise -metaphorical for all the lies
“don’t keep me long; the fire scorches me” chapter 19
just going to be too hot or could be the fire which consumes Thornfield or her feelings for Rochester that overwhelm her or the danger of trusting Rochester or her vulnerability